Austin is a doctoral student in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on Syriac Christianity and different narratives involving trips to and tours of the “land of the dead,” especially the “Harrowing of Hell” narrative. He is interested how the portrayal of bodies and spaces in these narratives impacted and reflected understandings of human bodies in antiquity.
Prior to joining the University of Pennsylvania, Austin completed his BA at Northwestern University, majoring in History and receiving his Secondary Education certification. He then taught middle school and high school US History and several other social studies electives for 6 years, before completing his MTS at Boston University, School of Theology.
BA, History, Northwestern University, 2016
MTS, Boston University, School of Theology, 2024
Syriac Studies
Late Antiquity and Medieval Studies
Spatial Theory and Embodiment
Land of the Dead Narratives
Christianity
Intellectual History
Material and Visual Culture